Dear clients, families and supporters, it is my great pleasure to invite you all to the LDS end of year family gathering complete with nativity play and lots of fun activities and great food. As per the invite later in this communique, it will be held on 26th November 2022 at the Fullarton Community Centre. It will be so good to return of a face-to face events where we can celebrate our client’s achievements, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, and to share in fellowship and service with our wonderful community of clients, families, advocates and staff.

LDS Structure

Following some of the management changes over the past 12 months and following feedback from a number of families, we have recognised we need to continue to invest in the management layers of LDS to continue to provide the support and development of our wonderful teams of support workers who work with our clients. When we introduced the role of team leader, the intention was that they would spend a portion of their time on staff development, administration and be supported by our two Senior Client Service Managers Ben and Matt. This structure has been working well but we acknowledge the increasing workloads on team leaders and Senior Client Service Managers. In our recent client surveys you have told us that you want your team leader to be freed up so that they can be more available in the houses.

Based on the above and to ensure we continue to invest in our people, we are in the process of hiring four new Client Service Managers to focus on staff development, client service delivery quality and effectiveness while making sure the team leaders have enough time to focus on day to day supports for our clients. We will communicate who our new Client Service Managers are to all clients and families after as the recruitment is finalised. Your team leader will continue to be your main point of contact for any matters relating to clients. Please reach out to them at any time, they are there for you as are Ben and Matt our Senior Client Services Managers. My door is always open too, if you wish to raise any matters of concern or compliment.

Thank you once again for your continued partnership in supporting and empowering our clients to achieve their goals. One of LDS core values is “Excellence”. While we are not always “excellent” we will continue to strive to improve and develop our awesome team of support workers who go the extra mile and have a heart for our mission to help clients thrive and to connect in Christian community. We will keep investing in our teams and always welcome feedback on how we can improve our services.

I particularly want to shout out a huge thanks to St John’s congregation who feature in this edition. Practical examples of expressing God love through serving each other is a rich reminder of how much God loves each and every one of us created uniquely by Him and made perfect through our shared hope in the resurrection.

Blessings, JvR

Sharon is a client that lives in one of our properties in Mansfield Park and recently her TV stopped working and she was worried that she would miss out on watching her favourite programs and the Crows game the next day.

Using the LDS Empowerment funds Sandy (Team Leader) and Bryan (Support Worker) sprung into action.

While Sharon could have waited to go through the process to apply for some money for a new TV, her support team knew that Sharon needed a TV immediately and couldn’t wait a week or so for the approval.

So, the team decided that the best approach was to buy a replacement TV for Sharon so that she wouldn’t miss out and would have company over the weekend.

By accessing the LDS ’empowerment’ funds – allocated budget to enable clients to replace items or to make their house a home or for any worthwhile purpose – through a quick call to the Senior Client Services Manager for approval and the new TV was picked up.

Sharon had a great weekend, with only a few hours without a TV and even though the Crows lost, she still enjoyed the new TV.

At LDS we empower our staff to make quick decisions on how to support their clients so that the clients can feel safe and secure. Over the past year we have purchased new curtains, basketball rings, sporting equipment and cooking equipment.

Through the empowerment fund we empower our staff to empower our clients! Just another example of the LDS difference in serving our community.

In February LDS welcomed four new clients that live in Klemzig to the LDS family. Since Andrew, Bradly, Rory and Leigh have joined LDS we have seen them all blossom and have asked the families how they are transitioning.

“I am impressed with the way that the Lutheran Disability houses are cared for. They are clean and beautifully organised. The houses supplied by Lutheran Disability are of a very high standard. This is another way that all clients are shown that they are very important people and worth having a lovely home to live in. The kindness and loving care towards all clients is always apparent.”

“All the support workers we have met have been very pleasant and helpful. Communicating with LDS office has been easy and replies are very prompt. We know Andrew can be difficult but from our perspective he has been much calmer and happier since the LDS transition. He now has a key support worker whom he knows well and who understands his. support needs.”

“We feel we can now relax and step back a bit knowing he is happy and in good hands.”

“I was speaking with Bradly about all the wonderful things he is doing with Lutheran and how the support workers are so kind and caring towards him and I said it was like ‘chalk and cheese’. Bradly probably didn’t really understand but he thought it was funny and laughed, so I explained it carefully to him. So now when we speak on this subject, he says “it is like chalk and cheese” and has a good laugh.”

“Personally, as Bradly’s Guardian, I have been impressed that right from the start of our relationship with Lutheran Disability, that all levels of staff were happy to listen to things that I told them
about Bradly. Instructions were made and all support workers had access to them. The staff have been very cooperative in carrying out instructions from doctors, psychologist etc. and even myself. This along with all Lutheran Disabilities other care policies makes for a very personal and happy atmosphere.”

“We are all so very happy with the change in Bradly. He is happy almost all the time. He is very settled with regular support workers and the fact that those care workers show him such kindness and make time for him.”

“I personally have a peace of mind about Bradly that I have not experienced any concern. I trust the support workers and staff of any kind to do their very best for Bradly. I feel that I have a good working relationship with them and that, believe me, is a wonderful feeling. Thank you all for your genuine care of Bradly and all your clients. God bless.”

Welcome to all of our new clients and welcome to the LDS family.

Looking for a new home with an organisation that will help give you purpose, connection and create with you a happy home?  Contact Jordan Matthews today on 0431 685 808.

LDS has been growing in recent months and in March we launched a new property in Edwardstown with three ladies coming together to live at the property. This beautiful house has become a home with these lovely ladies adding their personal touch to the property.

Jenni was living at another LDS property and told her support worker that she loves her new house because she is more independent and has a lot of fun. Jenni also loves to cook and is enjoying assisting with meals for the whole house.

Sam is new to LDS and says that she is really enjoying the independence and having a say about her daily living. “I like having new friends and having support to make my meals” said Sam. “The staff are much better than what I had at my old place! The staff are so much nicer and funnier!”

Natalie is also a new client to LDS and told staff that she likes having more choices and being more Independence, loves helping to cook and having assistance with household chores. For Natalie, having friendly & caring staff is also important.

What everyone loves is feeding the fish!

Jenni, Sam & Natalie have made this house their home and we welcome them to the LDS Family!